Lectures & Workshops

Healing Trauma in the Path to Recovery:

Trauma and Addiction a Gestalt Approach

Traumatic childhood and life events shape the way individual see themselves and the world. Which has a direct impact on relationships, self-perception, coping skills, self-esteem, etc. The focus of this

6-module training is to provide a deeper understanding on the relationship between addiction and trauma, the role of the nervous system, adverse childhood experiences, polyvagal theory, and the application of this knowledge through the framework of Gestalt Psychotherapy to support healing experiences.

Introduction video

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Facilitator

Rafael Cortina

He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years of experience working with individuals, couples, families and groups. Rafael has a Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology and a Masters in Business Administration. He is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Certified Gestalt Therapist and a Certified Gestalt Couples Therapist and specialized training on EMDR, TRM, addiction treatment and trauma work. He is currently an Adjunct Faculty Member at National University, Chief Education Officer at the West Coast Mindfulness Institute, and Newsletter Editor/Board Member at the International Association of Advancement in Gestalt Therapy. He is the former lead faculty at the Instituto de Psicoterapia Gestalt Humanista in Tijuana, MX, as well as presenter and facilitator of several workshops, trainings, presenter in international conferences and supervision.

Full bio

Modules and schedule

Module 1:

Understanding trauma and addiction from a Gestalt perspective

Types of addiction.
The nervous system.
Cycle of experience and addiction.
Phases of addiction.
Functional model of addiction.
The Nature of trauma.
Impact of trauma on the Self.
Phenomenology of the trauma system.
Neurobiology of trauma.
Polyvagal theory.
Relationship between trauma and addiction.
The blanket called addiction.
The role of hope.

Module 2:

Assessment and nervous system regulation

Assessing the healing process.
Assessing addiction history.
The scary invitation of sobriety.
Tasks of recovery.
Establishing a clinical relationship.
Safety and support.
Resourcing.
Stages of change.
Building trust.
The reality of recovery.
Grieving sobriety.
Residential treatment.

Module 3:

Resource development and supporting early sobriety

Building support for contact in early recovery.
Tasks of recovery.
Recurring themes.
Getting to know the addict Self.
Tri-phasic model of trauma treatment.
Here and now exercises.
Mindfulness.
Polyvagal exercises.
Body contact/awareness exercises.
Directiveness in early recovery.
The role of support groups.
Holding HOPE.

Module 4:

Treatment model Part 1

Value of the story.
Recovery tasks.
Parts work.
Aligning with the protector.
Integration vs cohabitation vs coexisting vs collaboration.
Exploring trauma history.
Bottom-down & Top-down trauma processing.
Supporting ambivalence.
The art of working with what is in front of you.
Self of the therapist.
Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT).
Experiments.

Module 5:

Treatment model Part 1

The scope of trauma treatment.
Developing Self functions.
Trauma work.
Undoing, redoing, and mourning.
Reprocessing and Recontextualization.
Transforming and transcending.
Holding dual reality polarities vs. integration.
Body process.
EMDR.
Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM).
Long-term sobriety.
Relapses.
Life/Purpose/Forgiveness.

Module 6:

Groups, couples, and family work

System work.
Codependency.
Reintegration to life function.
Working with the support system.
Parent work.
Children work.
Family work.
Couple work.
Group work.

The total cost for the six 3-hour Modules

The cost for the entire program (six 3-modules) is $630 USD. For USA licensed clinicians a total of 18 CE for all 6 modules. CE-Classes.com is the provider of (CEs). Certificates are awarded online after completion of the workshop.

Participants print their own certificate after registering at CE-Classes.com, entering a keycode, and completing an evaluation form. Licensed Professionals should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval. CE-Classes.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CE-Classes.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences, BBS, recognizes relevant course work/training that has been approved by nationally recognized certifying bodies, such as APA, to satisfy renewal requirements.

California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) Provider Number OS-12-147-0223 Expires 02-2023

This course is NOT available for NBCC credit and This training does not offer ASWB ACE credit to social workers.

Lectures & Workshops

Introduction video

Modules and schedule

Module 1:

Understanding trauma and addiction from a Gestalt perspective

Module 2:

Assessment and nervous system regulation

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Module 3:

Resource development and supporting early sobriety

Module 4:

Treatment model Part 1

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Module 5:

Treatment model Part 1

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Module 6:

Groups, couples, and family work